JPS60122545A - Electronic dynamometer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ta>Technical Field This invention relates to an electronic grip strength needle used for grip strength exercises and for measuring grip strength for medical examinations.

(b) Prior Art Grip strength trainers conventionally used to increase grip strength do not display grip strength values, so it is not possible to quantitatively know how much grip strength has been increased through training.
It was just a training tool. Furthermore, the grip strength needles conventionally used to measure physical strength mechanically measure grip strength and indicate the grip strength value in pairs, which has a limited measurement accuracy and makes it difficult to read the values indicated by the needle. This method had the disadvantage that it took time and measurement values could not be read smoothly.

(C) Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to improve the effectiveness of training by measuring grip strength automatically and with high precision using a pressure sensor, and by displaying grip strength index values. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic grip dynamometer that can quantitatively grasp the grip force and smoothly measure the grip strength.

(d1 Structure of the invention The configuration of this invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

The pressure sensor A converts an external force, that is, a grip force, applied against the elasticity of a spring inserted between the main body and the movable part into an electric signal, and outputs the converted signal to the force reading means B.

The output of the pressure sensor A is sequentially read by the output reading means B within the time required for one stroke of the movable part, and the read values are given to the grip strength index value calculating means C. The grip strength index value calculation means C calculates a grip strength index value from the value read by the output reading means B and the number of readings, for example, the average value of the values read by the output reading means B during one stroke of the movable part. The grip strength index value is output to the display device, and the display device displays the grip strength index value. In this way, the present invention measures the change in grip strength in one stroke from gripping the movable part to releasing the finger using the pressure sensor A, and displays the grip strength index value obtained from the measurement data on the display IID. It's meant to make you want to do something.

Let's Embodiment FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic grip force needle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the same electronic grip force meter.

The electronic grip force needle of this embodiment uses a load cell 1.2, which is a type of variable resistance type, as a pressure sensor. The device is configured to measure and display the average grip strength value and the number of grip strength measurements. The main body consists of a guide piece 3 formed in an inverted U shape and a fixed piece 4 fixed to both ends of the guide piece 30 via load cells 1 and 2.

A compression spring 5 is fitted along the outer periphery of the inverted U-shaped portion of the guide piece 3. Both ends of the compression spring 5 are connected to a movable part 6, and the movable part 6 slides along the mutually parallel shaft parts of the guide piece 3. In such a structure, when a finger is hooked on the movable part 6 and a grip force is applied against the elasticity of the compression spring 5 inserted between the main body and the movable part 6, the load cell 1 is adjusted according to the magnitude of the grip force. , the output of 2 changes. The cable part 7 that covers the guide piece 3 and the compression spring 5 is provided with a display surface 8 that displays the average grip strength value and the number of measurements, and a changeover switch 9 that turns the power on/off and switches the display contents of the display surface 8. There is. When a person to be measured uses this electronic grip force needle to measure grip strength, the person grasps the fixed piece 4 and the movable part 6 and tightens the grip. When using it for grip strength training, repeat the above-mentioned grasp and release measurement operation. - One stroke of the movable part 6 is completed by the measurement operation of squeezing and releasing it twice.

The configuration of the grip force measuring section of the electronic grip dynamometer will be explained with reference to FIG.

The load cell 1.2 is a well-known device whose resistance value changes according to external force (load), and the oscillator 10 is configured so that the oscillation frequency changes with a CR time constant according to the resistance change.
It is connected to the. Both ends of the guide piece 3 to which the load cell 1.2 is attached receive the applied grip force in two through the fixed piece 4, so the sum of the changes in the resistance value of the load cell 1.2 is the grip force. The oscillator 10 is connected to an oscillator 10 to generate a pulse p of an oscillation frequency corresponding to a change in the resistance values of the load cells 1 and 2, that is, a change in grip strength.
is output to the AND gate 12. This pulse p is counted by a pulse counter 13 at every sampling time defined by a timer 11.

The timer 11 is activated when the selector switch 9 is switched from the power off position to either display mode a or b, and outputs a timing signal t that defines the sampling time of the pulse counter 13 to the AND game 12. A counter reset signal [1] is output to the pulse counter 13. Further, the timer II provides a timing signal t2 instructing an integration circuit 20 of the average value calculation circuit 14, which will be described later, to take in the count value of the pulse counter 13.

A diagram showing the operation of the oscillator IO and timer 11 is shown in FIG. The timing signal t is a signal that repeats on and off at intervals of time T, and when it is on, the pulse p is input to the pulse counter 13, and the number of pulses is counted. The time T for intermittently sampling by the pulse counter 13 is set in advance to, for example, 25 milliseconds. The needle value of the pulse counter 13 is provided to the average value calculation circuit 14 and the powerlessness detection circuit 15, which will be described later.

The configuration of the average value calculation circuit 14 is shown in FIG. The average value calculation circuit 14 is operated by grasping the fixed piece 4 and the movable part 6 by hand and then opening them (
In one stroke of the movable part 6 up to, the sampling time T
This circuit integrates the counted values of the pulse counter 13 sampled at , calculates the total value during one stroke, and divides the total value by the number of sampling times to detect the average grip strength value, and the grip strength index value calculation means of the present invention. It corresponds to C. The count value detected by the pulse counter 13 at every sampling time T is sequentially integrated in the integration circuit 20. That is,
Timer 1 when timing signal t changes from high to low
The timing signal t2 outputted from 1 is given to the integration circuit 20, and the number of stitches Ci obtained by the i-th sampling, which is the number of stitches at that time, is taken into the integration circuit 20. After the timing signal t2 is output, the timing signal 't
l is output and the pulse counter 13 is reset. Furthermore, the timing signal t2 is supplied to the sampling number counter 22.
The counter is used to count the number of pulses of the timing signal [2, that is, the number of sampling times. As will be described later, the end of one stroke of the movable part 6, that is, the completion of -times of measurement, is detected by the powerlessness detection circuit 15, and a pulse K representing this is given to the division circuit 21 and the sampling number counter 22. When the pulse K is emitted, the division circuit 21 calculates the number of samplings N counted by the sampling link counter 22 at that time, and also calculates the total value ΣCi of the count values obtained by integrating the counts of the number N of samplings by the integrating circuit 2o. Divide the total value by the number of samplings N and calculate the average value (ΣCi)/N
is output to a display switching circuit 18, which will be described later.

As described above, the average value of the count values obtained by sampling a plurality of times during one stroke of the movable part 6 is detected.

The number of pulses output by the word cells 1 and 2 and the oscillator 10 within the sampling time T as a reference time generates the pulse p corresponding to the external force applied to the main body at that time, and when the measurement is completed, The value determined by the average value calculation circuit 14 corresponds to the average value of the grip strength that changed during the one stroke, that is, the average grip strength value.

Further, the count value of the pulse counter 13 is introduced into a reset circuit 17 that generates a reset signal R for resetting the division circuit 21. The reset circuit 17 outputs a reset signal R for a certain period of time to reset the divider circuit 21 when the count value of the pulse counter 13 exceeds a preset value A.

The powerlessness detection circuit 15 includes the pulse counter 13 as described above.
A circuit that reads the change in the count value and detects the end of one stroke of the movable part 6, that is, the completion of − measurements,
It has a known circuit configuration that determines that one measurement is complete when the needle value decreases to a predetermined value A or less. The predetermined value A-, which serves as a reference for determining the completion of one stroke of the movable part 6 by the powerlessness detection circuit 15, is slightly thicker (set) than the value B that defines turning on of the reset signal R in the reset circuit 17. (A>B).Then, the reset signal R sent from the reset circuit 17 is sent when the value C of the pulse counter 13 becomes smaller than the above value B.
, when the value C exceeds the value B from a value smaller than the value B, a pulse is transmitted for a certain period of time. As grip force is applied between the fixed piece 4 and the movable part 6 and the force is released at the highest point, the count value decreases until the no-load state where the reset signal R is issued, but as described above. Since the determination level is set, the powerlessness detection circuit 15 detects the completion of one measurement before the reset signal R is turned on. Incidentally, as described above, the division circuit 21 is reset by the reset signal R when the - process ends and the next process starts. Therefore, the average grip strength value can be read at the end of the -stroke.

When the powerlessness detection circuit 15 detects the completion of measurement, it generates a pulse K and outputs the pulse K to the division circuit 21 and the sampling number counter 22 as well as to the decrement number counter 16. The reduction number counter 16 counts the pulses K, calculates the number of grip force measurements, and outputs it to the display switching circuit 18. The 0 display switching circuit 18 calculates the average grip force value (ΣCi)/N' calculated by the average value calculation circuit 14, and decreases it. This is for displaying one of the number of measurements counted by the number counter 16 on the display 19, and the changeover switch 9
By setting the display modes a and b, display data corresponding to the set position is displayed on the display 19. That is, when the selector switch 9 is set to the display mode positions @a and b, the average grip strength value and the number of grip strength measurements are displayed on the display surface 8 corresponding to each set position. During continuous measurement, the display switching circuit 18 extracts display data from the average value calculation circuit 14 and the decrement counter 16 and displays it. The display switching circuit 18 also includes a memory that stores and holds the average grip force value transferred from the average value calculation circuit 14,
When the average grip strength value is transferred for each measurement, the memory is updated and the latest average grip strength value is always displayed.

The average grip strength value and the number of grip strength measurements are measured and displayed by the grip strength measuring section having the above configuration.

When training your grip strength by looking at the average grip strength value,
The changeover switch 9 is set in advance to the display mode a position. When force is gradually applied from the beginning of the grip at the start of training, the reset signal R is turned on and the divider circuit 21 is reset until a predetermined level is reached. Subsequently, as the grip force is applied, the count value of the pulse counter 13 is sampled and sequentially integrated by the integrating circuit 20. Further, the reset signal R is turned off, and the division circuit 21 becomes ready for arithmetic processing. When the grip force is applied to the maximum point and then relaxed, and the force falls below a certain value, the pulse K is sent to the divider circuit 21 and the sampling number counter 2.
2 is output. When the pulse K is generated, the integrated value of the integrating circuit 22 is divided by the number of samplings counted by the sampling number counter 22 as described above to obtain an average grip force value, which is displayed on the display screen 8. When the above measurement operation is repeated, the average grip force value is displayed every time one stroke of the movable part 6 is completed, and the number of times the operation is performed is counted by a decrease number counter 16. By switching the selector switch 9 to the display mode b position at a desired time, a display of the number of grip strength measurements counted up to that time can be obtained.

In this way, the average grip force value as the grip force index value can be displayed with high accuracy and automatically using the load cells 1 and 2, and therefore the data can be read by digitally displaying the average grip force value. This can be done smoothly, and by using this display data, it is possible to clearly understand the quantitative effects of grip strength training and significantly improve the grip strength enhancement effect. Furthermore, the above-mentioned average grip strength value may be used for medical examination data, and even in that case, the average grip strength value is digitally displayed and the data can be read smoothly.

In the above embodiment, the average value of the sampled count values in - times of grip strength measurement was calculated and the average grip force value was displayed as the grip strength index value. Each time the pulse p is repeated, the average value of the count value of the pulse p is calculated, and the maximum value of each average value during one stroke of the movable part 6 is detected. (referred to as the maximum value) may be displayed as the grip strength index value. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the main parts of the grip force measuring section of the electronic grip force needle which is configured to calculate and display the above-mentioned average maximum grip force value. Components that are the same as those in the previous embodiment are given the same numbers. In this example, as shown in FIG. 7, the oscillator 10 generates a pulse p, and the timer 11 generates timing signals t, tl, t2, as well as a timing signal t3, which will be described later.

The average grip strength maximum value detection circuit 30 corresponds to the grip strength index value calculation means C of the present invention, and every time sampling specified by the timing signal t2 is performed a predetermined n times, the pulse counter 13 detects the pulse value obtained by each sampling. an average value calculation unit that calculates a total value by adding the counted values of and divides the total value by a predetermined number of times n to calculate an average value; and a maximum value of the values calculated by the average value calculation unit. and a maximum value determination section. The average value calculation section includes an integration circuit 31, a division circuit 32,
A sampling frequency determination circuit 33 is included, and the maximum value determination section includes a first storage circuit 36, a second storage circuit 37, and a comparison circuit 38.

The timing signal t2 is introduced into the integration circuit 31 and the sampling number determination circuit 33. The sampling number determination circuit 33 counts the number of pulses of the timing signal t2, and when the number of pulses reaches n, it becomes a high signal and gives an operation command to the division circuit 32, and also outputs an AND signal through the delay circuit 34. A high signal is given to the gate 35. When the timing signal t2 is given to the integration circuit 31, the integration circuit 3
1 takes in the count value C'l (the count value at the i-th sampling time) counted by the pulse counter 13 at that time, and sequentially integrates the count value every time the timing signal t2 is applied. When the number of samplings reaches n times by the sampling number determination circuit 33, the division circuit 3
2 takes in the integrated value ΣC'i of the integrating circuit 31, divides the integrated value by n, and calculates the average value (ΣC'l)/N. The output of the divider circuit 32 is applied to a first memory circuit 36 via an AND gate 35. When the number of samplings reaches n times, the high signal outputted from the sampling number determination circuit 33 is applied to the division circuit 32, but is also applied to the AND gate 35 through the delay circuit 34 as described above. Therefore, when the average value of n samplings is determined in the division circuit 32, a high signal is introduced through the delay circuit 34 with a delay of the time required for the division process, and the average value is stored in the first storage circuit 36 through the AND gate 35. be transferred. When a high signal is output through the delay circuit 34,
A counter for counting the number of samplings in the sampling number determination circuit 33 is reset by the output signal.

The maximum value determination unit has a circuit configuration that sequentially takes in the average value calculated every n times by the average value calculation unit and determines the maximum value. When the number of samplings reaches n times, the average value determined at that time is taken into the first storage circuit 36 and stored as described above. The second storage circuit 37 is a circuit that stores the maximum value of the average values sequentially taken in in one stroke of the movable part 6. The comparison circuit 38 compares the average values stored in the first storage circuit 36 and the second storage circuit 37, and generates a NOI signal when the average value of the second storage circuit 37 is smaller than the average value of the first storage circuit 36. is output to the AND gate 39. The output of the first memory circuit 36 is AND
When the output of the comparator circuit 3B that is applied to the gate 39 becomes high, the average value stored at that time is transferred to the second memory circuit 37, and the value stored in the second memory circuit 37 is updated. . The output of the first memory circuit 36 is an AND gate 41
Furthermore, the output of the second memory circuit 37 is applied to an AND gate 40, and a timing signal t3 from the timer 11 is introduced to the AND gates 40 and 41. AN
The logic outputs of D gates 41 and 41 are provided to comparator circuit 38. The timing signal t2 becomes high and the integration circuit 31
After the new count value is stored in , the timing signal t3 becomes high, and the first storage circuit 36 and the second storage circuit 37
A comparison is made between the stored values stored in each. Of course, unless a new average value is loaded into the first storage circuit 36, the same comparison process is repeated by the comparison circuit 38. Further, when the value stored in the second storage circuit 37 is larger than that of the first storage circuit 36, the output of the comparison circuit 38 becomes low and the value stored in the second storage circuit 37 is not updated. After the comparison circuit 38 compares the average values, the counter reset signal t1 is output and the pulse counter 13 is reset. Furthermore, in order to prevent unnecessary data from being displayed on the display 19, as in the previous embodiment, a reset signal R is generated to close the second memory circuit 37 as long as the count value by the pulse counter 13 does not exceed a predetermined value. It is being reset. That is, since the second memory circuit 37 is reset by the threshold set signal R when the -stroke ends and the next stroke starts, the average maximum grip force value can be read at the time when the -stroke ends.

The value determined by the maximum value determination section and finally stored in the second storage circuit 37 is applied to the display switching circuit 18 through the AND gate 42. - When the completion of the measurement of the batch is detected by the powerlessness detection circuit 15, the pulse K is
The value output to the gate 42 and stored in the second memory circuit 37 at that time is displayed as the average maximum grip force value in the display switching circuit 1.
8 and displayed. By performing grip strength training while looking at the display of the average maximum grip strength value measured and displayed as the grip strength index value as described above, it is possible to clearly grasp the quantitative effect of grip strength training as in the above example, and to train the grip strength. The grip strength enhancement effect can be significantly improved.

In the two embodiments described above, a pressure sensor consisting of a load cell 1.2 is used, but the grip force may be measured using a pressure sensor consisting of a piezoelectric element. FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of the main parts of the grip force measuring section in the case where a piezoelectric element is used as the pressure sensor in the former example. Since the grip force is measured as analog data by the piezoelectric element 50, the output of the piezoelectric element 50 is A/D converted through the amplifier 51SA/D conversion circuit 52, and the converted data is sent to the average value calculation circuit 14, the powerlessness detection circuit 15, and the reset. to the circuit 17. In this case, since the pulse counter is not used, the counter reset signal t
The timing signal t2 need only be generated by the timing signal generating circuit 53 without requiring the timing signal t2.

As another example of a pressure sensor, a variable capacitance pressure sensor consisting of an element whose capacitance changes according to an external force is used, and the output of the sensor is introduced into the oscillator IO to generate a pulse corresponding to the magnitude of the grip force. You may also do so.

In the above example, the movable part was held with four fingers, but as shown in Figure 9, the movable part was divided into four parts and a pressure sensor was placed for each movable part. It's okay.

The movable parts 61 to 64 provided for each term protrude from the case part 60, and within the case part 60 there is a compression spring between the end of each movable part and the pressure sensors 69 to 72 attached to the board 73. 65-68 are intervening. When fingers are placed on the distal end surfaces of the movable parts 61-64 and gripped, the grip force of each finger is applied to the pressure sensors 69-72 against the elasticity of the compression springs 65-68. The grip force applied in this manner is measured by the pressure sensors 69 to 72 for each stroke of each movable part, and the average grip force value is determined from the total value of the output of each pressure sensor in the same manner as in the above-mentioned embodiment. The grip strength index value is displayed on the display surface (not shown) of the case portion 60. Of course, the average maximum grip force value may be determined and displayed as in the example shown in FIG. In the electronic grip dynamometer described above, each movable part is provided with compression springs 65 to 68, so that force is applied to each term. For this reason,
Increases and decreases in the force exerted by each finger appear as changes in the grip strength value, and these changes can be clarified on the digital display of the grip strength index value.
It can be used for grip strength training to strengthen all four fingers.

(r＞Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, changes in grip strength are measured automatically and with high precision using a pressure sensor, and the sensor output value and the number of readings read in one measurement operation of grasping and releasing. Since the grip strength index value of the average grip strength value or the average grip strength maximum value is calculated and displayed, you can read the displayed data for each measurement and perform grip strength measurement smoothly. Moreover, by displaying the grip strength index value, the above Increases and decreases in grip strength during grip strength training that repeats measurement movements can be quantitatively understood, and the grip strength enhancement effect of the grip strength training can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an invention configuration diagram for clearly showing the configuration of this invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic grip force needle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a grip force measuring section of the electronic grip force needle.
FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining the average grip force value calculation operation in the grip force measurement section, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration around the average value calculation circuit 14 of the grip force measurement section, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram of the main parts of the grip force measurement section of the current electronic grip force needle according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 explains the average grip force maximum value calculation operation in the grip force measurement section of the electronic grip force needle of FIG. 6 above. Fig. 8 is a block diagram of the main parts of the grip force measurement section showing an example of using a piezoelectric element in the pressure sensor of the present invention, and Fig. 9 is an example of the movable part of the present invention provided for every four fingers. FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic grip dynamometer. 1.2--load cell (as a pressure sensor), 3-guide piece, 4-(!i constant piece, 5-compression spring, 6-movable part,
82 (display unit 19) display surface. Applicant Kubota Tekko Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Hisao Komori Figure 1 + Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Rough Figure 5 Figure 6 5

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In a device that measures the grip force applied to the main body against the elasticity of a spring inserted between the main body and the movable part,
A pressure sensor that converts an external force applied to the main body into an electrical signal, an output reading means that sequentially reads the output of the pressure sensor within the time required for one stroke of the movable part, and the output reading means reads the output of the pressure sensor. An electronic grip strength needle comprising: a grip strength index value calculation means for calculating a grip strength index value from the obtained value and the number of readings; and a display device for displaying the grip strength index value calculated by the grip strength index value calculation means. (2) The grip strength index value calculation means adds the values read by the output reading means to calculate a total value, and divides the total value by the number of readings by the output reading means to obtain an average grip strength value. 2. The electronic grip strength meter according to claim 1, further comprising an average grip strength value calculating means, wherein the average grip strength value is displayed on the display as the grip strength index value. (3) Each time the number of readings by the output reading means reaches a predetermined number, the pushing force index value calculation means adds the values read during that period to calculate a total value, and divides the total value by the predetermined number of times. an average value calculation means for calculating the average value, and an extreme value determination means for calculating the extreme value of the value calculated by the average value calculation means, the extreme value determined by the extreme value determination means is The electronic grip strength needle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic grip strength needle is displayed as the grip strength index value on a display device. (4) The electronic grip force needle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a piezoelectric element. (5) an oscillator in which the pressure sensor includes a load cell, the output reading means is connected to the load cell, and generates a pulse corresponding to an external force applied to the main body;
Claims include a pulse counter that counts the pulses of the oscillator for each divided time period in which the time required for one stroke of the movable part is divided into a plurality of times, and outputs the counted value to the grip strength index value calculation means. The electronic grip force needle described in any one of Items 1 to 3.゛